-Advice from your
closest friends is best...careful with advice
from strangers who promote the same groups of services
every time.

-Decide on a budget...plan
to spend $1,500. to $4,000. for a well shot &
edited video or approx. $1,000. for a low end video or
under $500. for a home-made type video. Experience,
workmanship, equipment type and editing sophistication
account for wide pricing variations.

-Meet
with the person who will do the actual work...meeting
only with a salesperson will get you promises that
will not be kept.

-The “flavour of the month” is
rarely the one to choose...scrutinize
all Videographers equally, don't just fall for
referrals from strangers, low prices &
salesmanship.

-The
“team approach” is more of a “risky approach"...
“Teams” tend to change often as cameramen &
editors move on due to low earnings. Also, it is much
more desirable to have the original cameraman edit his
own work rather than leave editing to a “team” or a
low cost outside service.

-Full
size Sony HD video cameras are best...All
small video cameras do not fully meet Hi-Def
standards. DSLR still cameras with limited video
capabilities have various quality flaws and lack
numerous controls that make them unsuitable for
fast-paced & critical event video work.

-Recording in standard def is now
history...Some still sell only
Standard Def (DVD) video, genuine High Definition is
the only way to go.

-Check
the condition of the equipment for your event...old
beaten up cameras & equipment held together by
duct tape is common.

-A
quality back-up camera...Many event
videographers do not have a backup camera. Since
there's only one chance to do things right, it's
essential for an event Videographer to have an
up-to-date backup camera available in case of main
camera failure!

-Lighting
is still important...some added lighting is
still and always will be a requirement unless a
home-made look is expected. Most low cost services do
not add any lighting.

-A
tripod is a tool of the trade...for
speeches & high level work nothing beats a solid
tripod with pneumatic vertical movement.

-Short
demo videos do not tell the whole story...Short
demos are usually exciting, fast paced and can hide
the imperfections of the full length version. View
full length samples instead, preferably on a large
screen TV rather than a smartphone or tablet. Look
for: sharpness, good facial colours, evenly lit
scenes, flow, pleasing transitions, steady zooming
speed, lack of graininess, thought behind the
camera-work, listen carefully to the audio.

-A
Highlights (recap) segment at the ending...this
can make a pricing difference but will become the most
viewed portion.

-Styles
vary, but traditional remains strongest...careful
with samples of short videos with impressive intros
& endings, view the important segments.

-Precautions
to consider...Disc data should be available
for future additional copies, a contract is a must,
the cameraman's name needs to be on the contract,
insurance is a requirement, clear up rumors, check how
botched segments be handled.

-Be aware...Cash
deals can be risky. Last minute surprises are common.
Booking video through a photographer, caterer, DJ or
any "all in one service" is very risky. Photography
& video should not be booked from the same source,
one of the two will be compromised. Rented equipment
is often unpredictable. Do some homework as very few
event videographers have the qualifications,
technology and commitment required to do a proper job.

-Speedy
finishing...Waiting 6-12 months for editing
is ridiculous, one month should be maximum. Some do go
out of business unexpectedly!

-Not
all blank discs or USBs are equal...Low end
services use discs & USBs that are worth pennies.
Careful with those who “throw in” multiple free copies;
look at the content instead. Click here for Disc info
page.Hi-Definition
discs are named Blu-ray.

-The
High Definition Video evolution...High
Definition Video has become dominant. Many in our
trade will be promoting Hi-Def but they will be using
the wrong “home type” small hand held cameras (HDV,
DSLRs, I phones etc.) for very responsible work. This
is not the route to take. Sony’s latest XDCAM HD High
Definition solid state type equipment is the only
format to consider although it is more costly. Not all
Hi-Def is the same, variations exist, check our “High
Definition info” section for more details.

-Avoid
thrown out money...Choosing by price is false
economy, you'll only get what you pay for!